It could be nothing. Or it could be something.
Sure, the weather’s been hot. But …
8.2 percent. That’s how much higher residential electric sales were this year, through May, versus last year.
7 percent. That’s how much higher they were compared with the year before.
The all-time record high for residential sales through May was in 2014. This year, 2018, was 1.8 percent short of the record and now takes second place historically.
2010 and 2015 fall to third and fourth place. Their residential sales were each 0.5 percent behind 2018. 2011 is now in fifth place, with residential sales 1 percent behind 2018.
Could this year — when all is said and done — have the highest residential sales ever? It’s possible given June through December sales in these prior years.
And could this year’s sales beat last year’s sales by double digits? It’s possible given June through December sales last year.
Commercial electric sales you ask? They were 2 percent higher this year versus last and 1.5 percent higher versus the year before.
Work at a utility? Or a large concern of another type? We’re phasing out individual subscriptions to Public Utilities Fortnightly at any organization with over a hundred employees. But, no worries. We’ll make it easy and economical for your company to sign up for a membership to cover any employee.
Steve Mitnick, Editor-in-Chief, Public Utilities Fortnightly, and President, Lines Up, Inc.
E-mail me: mitnick@fortnightly.com